LAS VEGAS — — The Las Vegas Raiders used a strong defense and a balanced running game to hold off a late rally and beat the Cleveland Browns 20-16 on Sunday.

Cleveland drove to the Raiders’ 9-yard line, but Deshaun Watson was sacked by Charles Snowden with 41 seconds left to seal the victory.

The Raiders held on for the win despite star wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) and premier pass rusher Maxx Crosby (ankle) missing the game due to injuries. And the defense held the Browns to 241 yards.

Alexander Mattison rushed for 60 yards for the Raiders, who totaled 152 yards on the ground and five different players had runs of at least 10 yards, the most since 2010 against the Seahawks. The Raiders also became the first team since the Jets in 2010 against the Bengals to have two receivers score rushing touchdowns.

Las Vegas had not rushed for more than 55 yards in a game this season through Sunday.

Gardner Minshew was just 14 for 24 for 130 yards. He was sacked twice by reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

Watson completed all eight passes in leading the Browns to a touchdown drive to open the game that lasted 9:22 but finished 24 for 32 for 176 yards.

He came into the game having been sacked 16 times in the league and played behind an offensive line, missing four starters for much of the game and being picked off three times by the Raiders.

The loss was a major setback for the Browns (1-3). Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to compete in the playoffs, the Browns are now seeing those opportunities fade away. Only 42 teams since the 1970 merger have made the postseason after opening 1-3.

Not only did Las Vegas (2-2) bounce back from a 36-22 loss to the Panthers the week before, but the Raiders also found themselves in a 10-0 hole against the Browns in the first quarter.

But then the Raiders scored the next 20 points to seemingly take control before Zamir White’s fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter was returned by safety Rodney McLeod for a 25-yard touchdown. However, Dustin Hopkins missed the extra point, leaving the Browns down 20-16.

Cleveland appeared to take the lead on an 82-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Amari Cooper, but backup center Nick Harris was called for holding the Raiders defensive tackle. Christian Wilkins and the Browns ultimately had to punt.

The Browns had that final last gasp and had to go for the touchdown instead of the field goal due to Hopkins’ missed PAT, but Watson couldn’t attempt a pass.

Injuries

Browns: C Ethan Pocic (ankle) went into the locker room in the first quarter, returned in the third and then left. …. Cleveland entered the game knowing it would be missing a significant portion of its offensive line: RG Wyatt Teller (knee) and OTs Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and Jack Conklin (hamstring). … LB Jordan Hicks (elbow) left in the second quarter. …TE David Njoku (ankle) did not play.

Raiders: DE Maxx Crosby (ankle) missed his first career game and WR Davante Adams (hamstring) also did not play. … LB Divine Deablo (oblique), Munford (knee/ankle), CB Decamerion Richardson (hamstring) and TE Michael Mayer also did not play. … Return specialist Tyreik McAllister (shoulder) was injured in the fourth quarter.

Next

Browns: At the Washington Commanders on Sunday. It’s the second of a three-game road trip.

Raiders: Sunday at the Denver Broncos.

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